Game-board



(No Model.)

H. WACHTER.

GAME BOARD.

No. 447,851. Patented Mar.

fgl

E RROR BY CATOHER @mi *l E Arm/mfr.

. of the stop-pieces.

turca@ ATENT HENRY VAOHTER, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

GAM E-BOARD.

SPEQIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 447,851, dated March 10, 1891.

Application tiled August 25, 1890. Serial No. 362,991. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY WACHTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Games, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to the improvement of house games. j

The objects of my invention are to provide an improved form of game-board of such construction and arrangement as to admit of three separate games being played thereon, to so construct and arrange the same as to admit of the game of base-ball being played thereon and the making from said game of a complete score, such as is usually used as a record of the outdoor game of ball, to provide improved means for giving impetus to the ball, and to provide improved stops and deflectors. These objects yI accomplish in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a plan view of my improved game-board. Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the ball pitching or shooting apparatus. Fig is a vertical longitudinal section of the ball-receptacle or pitchers box. Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the ball-deflecting plate. Fig. 5 is a View in perspective of one Fig. 6 is a-transverse section on line x no of Fig. l, and Fig.7 is a side elevation of a pin employed in indicating the positions of the players in base-ball.

Similar letters refer to si milar parts th rou ghout the several views.

a represents an oblong' board, having its edges flanged upwardly, and having its forward end curved in the arc of a circle, as shown. rlhis board may have its head so elevated as to cause an incline toward its rear end, if' desired, to facilitate the movement of the ball thereon. Formed on the upper face of the board in its forward portion is an outline or representation of the base-ball diamond or infield, which consists of a home plate or base, (indicated by Fie'. 4,) and in concave depressions or seats b at the remaining corners of the diamond, which indicate the first, second, and third bases, and which,-

as shown, are numbered 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Formed in the board a near each of the depressions ZJ is a pin-hole, which is adapted to receive and support a suitable peg h or t, for the purpose hereinafter described.

Supported in the center of the diamond, at the point usually occupied by the pitcher, 1s a short horizontal tube c, said tube being pivotally connected with the board a by means of a pivot or swivel-screw c', which, being rigidly connected with the tube c, enters a suitable socket or screw-hole in said board. The rear end of this tubeis, as shown, provided with one or more inwardly-projecting lugs c2,whicl1 are adapted to prevent the ball c3, which is normally supported Within said tube, from escaping through the rear end thereof.

f represents a ball-delivering device, which consists of a metal spring-strip doubled at its central portion to form two spring-arms or finger-pieces, which, running approximately parallel to about the center of their length, are made to diverge toward their outer ends by outward curves. The tension of these spring-fingers is regulated by an adjustingscrew f', which passes through and connects the approximately parallel portions of said spring-arms and has one of its ends secured to one of said arms and passes loosely through the remaining arm. these spring-arms is regulated by a nut]c2 uponthe free end portion of the adjustingscrew j", said nut being made to abut against one of said spring-arms, as shown.

Supported upon the face of the board, to which it is glued or otherwise secured,imrne diately in rear of home-plate, is an angular or V-shaped detiecting plate or projection g, which is preferably formed of rubber. Formed in the board-face on opposite sides of the second base and wit-hout the infield diamond are the ball depressions or seats g g2, which are numbered, respectively, 5 and G.

7L h represent, respectively, ball depressions corresponding with the depressions g, which are located in the rear and outer side of the depressions g and g2, while between said depressions 7L h and in rear thereof is a similar depression h3. In rear of the depression h3 are arranged ina transverse row three depressions h4 h5 h6.

t' represents a bell, which is secured in any suitable manner to the face of the board in The distance between IOO rear of the three last-described depressions, said bell being partially surrounded on its rear side with a semicircular projection k, which may be of rubber or other desirable material. The circle of which said projection forms a part is continued on the forward side of the bell by projecting lugs 7c', of rubber, which are triangular in crosssection, said lugs or projections being arranged at such distance one from the other as to prevent the entrance between them of the ball c3. A space Z is left, however, in said circle in the forward side thereof of such size as to admit said ball.

On opposite sides of the, circular inclosure I preferably provide the board-face with ball depressionsjj, while similar depressions m vm are formed in the lower portion of said board.

The depressions indicated by the letters 7L h3 h* h5 hj j m m are numbered, respectively, 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14C 15 16. The spaces between the rubber stops k are numbered consecutively from 17 to 22. The lower or rear end of the board has its corners partitioned off to form bevels by diagonal partitions n, the ends of which meet the side and rear end flanges at equidistant points from the board-corners.

n represents rubber lugs or projections,

which are secured to the board-face at equi-j distant points at the rear ends of the partitionsn, and extend forwardly from the rear end ange of the board. The spaces between these vprojections n and the spaces between the said projections and the partitions n are each adapted to receive the ball c3, said spaces being numbered consecutively from l23 to 2S.

In constructing my im proved board Icause t'o Vloe printed in front of the deflect-ing-plate g the words Error by catcher, 1 13., indicating that an error by the catcher will entitle 'the b'atter to take 'a base. At first base appear the words Fly out by 1 13., at third base Fly out by 3 13., and at second base the words Double play. Placed near each of the remaining depressions are similar terms, which indicate the result 'of the play, and in case a hit, error, put-out, `or assist is indicated the movement to which the player is entitled is also indicated.

p represents short upwardlyiprojecting rubber lugs corresponding with vthe lugs 7c', said lugs p being arranged in groups of two yor more in rear of the ball depressions, and so set as to form a stop or pocket for the reception and retention of the ball c3. Adjoining the pockets thus formed the result of the play is indicated in case the ball should be 'caught in `one of said pockets, and each of said pockets is also indicated by a number.

p represent deiiecting-lugs, which correspond with lugs p and 7p', and maybe -arranged at desired points on the board for the purpose of deflecting the ball duringitsrearward course. Th'espaces between each ofthe Vlugs 7b are provided with lettering, indicating the result of the play in case the ball is caught between any two of said lugs. The space between the bell and the circle formed by the curved projection k and lugs 7c', which surround said bell, is marked with the words Home run. Each of the spaces between the projections u and 7c is lettered to indicate the result of the play in case the ball should lodge therein.

The manner of playing a game of base ball on my improved board may be illustrated as follows: Each of the two players having selected pegs b2 of the desired color, the player who is out proceeds to deliver the ball from the pitchers box cto the player who is in, which is accomplished by clamping that portion of the periphery or ballV surface which projects through the rear end of the tube c between the spring-fingers f of the impelling device. By pressing the spring-arms of this device toward each other the ball is driven forward through the tube c, its release and momentum being gained through the friction of the ends of the impelling device as they slip from the rounded surface of th-e ball. Theball, traveling forward, comes into contact with the deflector g and is turned to the right or left thereby. XVe will suppose that the ball after leaving the detlector travels down the board and enters the depression marked g. As indicated by the lettering adjoining these depressions, one base hit is thus made, which entitles the batter to takefirst base and ent-itles a base runner,if any there be, to move up two bases. This running ormoving up on bases is accomplished by moving the pegs b2, which represent the players, from the pegsoeket of one base to that of another. The first batter having thus placed his peg at first base, his opponent proceeds to deliver the ball for the second batter. XVe will suppose that the ball of the second batter enters the circle marked Home run and rings the bell t' by contact therewith. In this case the batter is given credit for a home run. If the ball after leaving the tube c should return and lodge therein, the batter is out and the put-Out is credited 'to the pitcher, as indicated by the lettering, and in case the ball is caught inthe angle of the deflecting-plate an error is given the catcher. Owing tothe fact that the ball-receiving depressions which are formed in the board correspond in position with the positions of the players in the -outdoor game of ball and the fact that all the points at which the ball may lodge or rest are so lettered or numbered as to indicate the result of the play and its effect on the batter or runner, it will be seen that a score may be kept of the game which will conform to the score of the ordinary base-ball game, and that the rules which apply to the outdoor game may be applied to the house game. By the use of the ball delivering or impelling device j' it is obvious that the movement of the ball after it leaves the tube c may be greatly 'affected by the twist imparted to the ball by IOO IIO

said impellin g device, this twist varying With the manner in which the impelling device is held and the ball grasped.

The manner of playinga game of odd and even on my improved board is substantially as follows: Any number of persons from two to eight may play, and any number of points which may be decided upon may constitute a game. Each player before beginning selects one of eight differently-colored pins or small pegs s and retains said peg and color throughout the game. t represents a peg, which has its enlarged head provided with a number of titled to move his pin from the first to the second base peg, this play and movementof the pin being repeated so long as the ball shall lodge at an even number. Having passed first, second, and third bases, the player has scored one point. In case the ball lodges at a point indicated by an odd number, 0r Where no number 'appeal-s, he is entitled to no move ot` the pin and must give Way to the next player.

In playing the game ofbagatelle the player' is, as is usual in this game, given credit for the number of points made, the points being calculated from the number of the depression or pocket which catches the ball.

From the construction and arrangement herein described it will be seen that the three games mentioned may be played upon one board, and that the game of base ball may be played with such near resemblance to the outdoor game as to create intense interest therein. "I "I I am aware that game-boards have been produced heretofore in which a ball-impelling device, ball depressions, and stop and deflecting pins have been used,` and therefore do not claim, broadly, such constructions.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a game,the combi11ation,\vith a flanged game-board having numbered and lettered ball depressions formed therein, a ball-supporting tube c, supported upon said board, and a V- shaped def'lecting-plate projecting from said board in front of said tube, of a ball-impelling device consisting of the bent or double spring-strip f, the arms of Which are connected by an adjusting-screwf, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a game, the combinatiomwith a flanged board d, the representation of a base-ball diamond thereon, numbered and lettered ball depressions b, located at the side and lower corners of said diamond, similar depressions arranged in rear of said diamond, peg-sockets adjacent to each of said depressions l?, tube c, supported in the center of said diamond and provided with end stop-lugs c2, a ball normally supported Within said tube,

and a ball-impelling device consisting, as de--l 

